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Profile Description

EAD version 2002 finding aid created in
XMetaL 4.5 by Traci JoLeigh Drummond,
February 27,
2010.

Language:

English

Collection Summary

Repository:

Georgia State University Library,
Special Collections and Archives,
Atlanta

Creator:

Professional Air Traffic Controllers
Organization (Washington, D. C.)

Title:

Professional Air Traffic
Controllers Organization records

Dates:

1957-1985

Quantity:

204.75 linear ft.in 517 boxes

Abstract:

The Professional Air Traffic Controllers
Organization (PATCO) was formed in 1968 to represent the interests of federally
employed air traffic controllers and was dissolved in 1981, after a strike
against the United States government resulted in all PATCO members being fired
from their Federal Aviation Administration jobs. This finding aid (number 6 of
18) describes Series VI, Central Office Files, 1967-1984 (30 linear feet of
records in 71 boxes), records of the administrative office in Washington,
D.C.

Identification:

L1986-45

Language

English.

Organization of the Records

The records are organized into 18 series.

Series I: President's Files

Series II: Vice President's
Files

Series III: Regional Vice President's
Files

Series IV: Director's Files

Series V: Strike Files

Series VI: Central Office Files [Detailed Description
below]

Series VII: Membership Files

Series VIII: Financial Records

Series IX: Conventions

Series X: Arbitration and
Grievances

Series XI: Regions
and Locals

Series XII: Accident Files

Series XIII: Safety and Health
Files

Series XIV: Public Relations and News
clippings

Series XV: Publications

Series XVI: Legislative Files

Series XVII: Subject Files

Series XVIII: Legal Files

Scope and Content of Series VI: Central Office Files

The Central Office Files (1967-1984) contain correspondence and other
materials generated and received by the PATCO central office in Washington, DC
(1969-1982). The majority of files consist of correspondence between the
central office and the regions and locals and correspondence between the
central office and outside organizations including the AFL-CIO, the FAA,
Oklahoma City ATC Training Academy, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and
several international air traffic control organizations. Topics include
overtime, strike contingency plans, regional re-alignment, air safety,
substance abuse, and medical issues. This series also includes
vice-presidential (1977-1981) and presidential (1977-1981) correspondence and
executive board resolutions (1969-1981).

History of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers
Organization

The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) was
formed in the New York area in 1968 to represent the interests of federally
employed air traffic controllers. The objectives of the organization were to
preserve and promote the profession; to improve working conditions for air
traffic controllers within the United States, its territories, and possessions;
and to represent its members in dealing with the Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies concerning grievances,
personnel policies, practices and other matters. In 1981, though as federal
employees it was illegal for them to do so, PATCO members went on strike. Over
11,000 controllers were subsequently dismissed.

Wages, work hours, and retirement were the significant issues for the
PATCO rank and file in their 1981 negotiation with the FAA. Members wanted an
across-the-board $10,000 salary increase (base pay for a controller was then
$20,462). PATCO President Robert Poli also wanted the 40-hour five-day week
reduced to a 32-hour four-day week without a decrease in salary. Controllers
deemed the shorter work week their most important issue, because they hoped it
would reduce the on-the-job stress that many of them experienced. They also
wanted a change in retirement requirements because they claimed that
controllers experienced "burn out" faster than other federal employees. The
government refused to discuss the last two demands. An agreement was reached by
June 22 that called for a 10% pay hike for controllers, a 20% increase in the
nighttime work pay differential, and a guaranteed 30-minute lunch period.
Though Poli had managed to get a few more benefits, he felt the overall package
was not enough. When it went to a vote, 95% of his members rejected the pact.
Though the two sides went back to the bargaining table on July 31, neither
seemed willing to budge. On August 3, 1981, the 15,000-member Professional Air
Traffic Controllers Organization went on strike.

Because PATCO members were responsible for guiding commercial airline
flights throughout the United States, the strike caused confusion, long delays,
and worries about air travel safety. Furthermore, as federal employees, PATCO
members by law were not permitted to strike. On August 5, the federal
government issued dismissal notices to over 11,000 controllers who refused to
return to their jobs. To President Ronald Reagan, the air traffic controllers
had quit their jobs by striking illegally. Secretary of Transportation Drew
Lewis said, "To all intents and purposes, the strike is over. Our concern is to
rebuild the system."

On August 6, a federal judge imposed a fine of $2.4 million per day
(later reduced) on PATCO as long as the strike lasted. The government also
obtained a court order that barred the union from using its $3.7 million strike
contingency fund and began proceedings to have it decertified. Union members
and other unionists claimed that the government was union busting. New workers
were quickly trained and installed as air traffic controllers and in October,
PATCO was decertified and dissolved. The PATCO strike and firing was one of the
most significant and controversial episodes involving the American labor
movement during the era.

On August 12, 1993, President Bill Clinton, by an executive order,
lifted the ban on rehiring PATCO controllers who had been fired twelve years
earlier.

Presidents of PATCO

1969-1970

James E. Hayes

1970-1980

John F. Leyden

1980-1982

Robert E. Poli

1982

Gary W. Eads

Executive Vice Presidents

1972-1980

Robert E. Poli

1980-1982

Robert E. Meyers

1982

Domenic Torchia

Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the
Georgia State University Library online catalog (GIL). Researchers desiring
materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog
using these headings.

Eads, Gary.

Hayes, James E.

Leyden, John F.

Meyers, Robert E

Poli, Robert.

Torchia, Domenic.

Professional Air Traffic
Controllers Organization (Washington D. C.)

Air Traffic Controllers'
Strike, U.S., 1981.

Air traffic
controllers--Pensions--United States.

Air traffic
controllers--Salaries, etc--United States.

Air traffic
controllers--Training of--United States.

Air traffic
controllers--United States.

Collective labor agreements
--Air traffic controllers--United States.

Grievance
arbitration--United States.

Strikes and lockouts--Air
traffic control--United States.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to materials with personal or sensitive information has been
restricted. Please consult with archivist for more information about accessing
these records. This collection is stored off-site. Contact
archivist in advance to view these materials; 24-hour notice is
required. All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental
policies on reproduction.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any
publication, including on the Worldwide Web, any material from this collection,
the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical
property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from
this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright
holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must
contain the complete citation to the original. All requests subject to
limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Related Material

Related materials in other repositories:
The Texas Labor Archives at the University of Texas at Arlington holds
many collections related to the Professional Air Traffic Controllers
Organization. Below is a sampling of these collections; please contact the
Texas Labor Archives to find out more
about these and other collections.

Copyright to this finding aid is owned by Georgia State University Library. Georgia State University Library has made this finding aid available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For more information, see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Copyright to this finding aid is owned by Georgia State University Library. Georgia State University Library has made this finding aid available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For more information, see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/